Receive the latest ward-room updates in your inbox

Candidates Demand Burke Step Down Amid Corruption Case

The heat is on all of the mayoral candidates with ties to Alderman Ed Burke in light of a federal criminal investigation. Toni Preckwinkle has announced new steps to distance herself from Burke and several candidates demand those with ties to the alderman, step down. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern reports.

(Published Monday, Jan. 7, 2019)

The heat is on all of the mayoral candidates with ties to Ald. Ed Burke in light of a federal criminal investigation.

Toni Preckwinkle has announced Monday new steps to distance herself from the embattled alderman and several candidates demand those with ties to Burke should step down.

Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas was handed a broom to symbolize his hopes to clean up city hall. He and Willie Wilson are calling on all of those connected to Burke -- Susana Mendoza, Toni Preckwinkle, Gery Chico and Bill Daley -- to step down.

"My suggestion would be for all of them to resign," Wilson said. "I think Toni Preckinkle should resign (from) her other job and get out of the mayor’s race."

Burke -- who received a taxpayer funded police ride Monday morning -- has lost his bodyguards as of 5 p.m. Mendoza has had close ties to Burke -- calling him her mentor -- Preckwinkle, too, even hired Burke's son for a county job -- both promising reforms.

"As mayor I'll fight to be sure that our city elected officials don't have outside employment," Preckwinkle said. "Aldermen should be working for their constituents, not their clients."

Mendoza said "I'm going to be accountable."

Daley proposed reducing the City Council from 50 wards to 15, limiting aldermen to three terms and banning immediate family members from doing city business.